Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Passing of the Grey Company
Thispartinggrievesme,andmystrengthislessenedbyit;butnowImusttakethemountain-roadsanddelaynolonger.Farewell!’
‘Farewell,lord!’saidAragorn.‘Rideuntogreatrenown!Farewell,Merry!Ileaveyouingoodhands,betterthanwehopedwhenwehuntedtheorcstoFangorn.LegolasandGimliwillstillhuntwithme,Ihope;butweshallnotforgetyou.’
‘Good-bye!’saidMerry.Hecouldfindnomoretosay.Hefeltverysmall,andhewaspuzzledanddepressedbyallthesegloomywords.MorethaneverhemissedtheunquenchablecheerfulnessofPippin.TheRiderswereready,andtheirhorseswerefidgeting;hewishedtheywouldstartaridgetitover.
NowThéodenspoketoÉomer,andhelifteduphishandandcriedaloud,andwiththatwordtheRiderssetforth.TheyrodeovertheDikeanddowntheCoomb,andthen,turningswiftlyeastwards,theytookapaththatskirtedthefoothillsforamileorso,untilbendingsouthitpassedbackamongthehillsanddisappearedfromview.AragornrodetotheDikeandwatchedtilltheking’smenwerefardowntheCoomb.ThenheturnedtoHalbarad.
‘TheregothreethatIlove,andthesmallestnottheleast,’hesaid.‘Heknowsnottowhatendherides;yetifheknew,hestillwouldgoon.’
‘Alittlepeople,butofgreatwortharetheShire-folk,’saidHalbarad.‘Littledotheyknowofourlonglabourforthesafekeepingoftheirborders,andyetIgrudgeitnot.’
‘Andnowourfatesarewoventogether,’saidAragorn.‘Andyet,alas!herewemustpart.
